The Utah Department of Transportation unveiled its 2024 construction plan, which encompasses 209 projects with a total value of $2.74 billion. Many of those projects include critical active transportation components, the agency said.

[Above photo by Utah DOT]

Lisa Wilson, Utah DOT deputy director of engineering and operations, noted in a statement that planned improvements incorporated within the agency’s 2024 construction plan range from repaving rural highways, building freeway-style interchanges, replacing aging bridges, improving pedestrian access, and building new trails.

“These projects are part of our commitment to helping people get where they want, in the way they want, safely and efficiently,” Wilson said. “This includes building new projects to help meet growth demands, maintaining our aging roads and bridges, and building out our transportation network to accommodate drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.”

Just some of the major projects Utah DOT plans to start work on this year that incorporate active transportation elements include:

  • The Mountain View Corridor: This $466 million project will connect the Mountain View Corridor from Porter Rockwell Blvd with 2100 North in Lehi, providing another much-needed transportation option for northwest Utah County and southwest Salt Lake County drivers. It will be the first section of Mountain View Corridor constructed as a freeway with no stoplights. Additional work includes upgrading the intersection at 2100 North to an interchange, updating wildlife fencing, and creating a multi-use trail. The Mountain View Corridor will eventually be a 35-mile freeway from I-80 in Salt Lake County to SR-73 in Utah County. Construction is expected to last through early 2026.
  • 5600 South: This $361 million project incorporates building a new I-15 interchange at 5600 South in Roy that will make it easier to get to and from Hill Air Force Base. The project is also widening 5600 South from three to five lanes from I-15 to 3500 West. Utah DOT will also add new sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, and a new trail system for pedestrians and bicyclists as well. These improvements will help area residents get around more easily, whether they are walking, biking or driving. Construction started in 2023 and is expected to continue through 2026. 
  • I-15 Shepard Lane interchange: This $147.5 million project will build a new interchange on I-15 at Shepard Lane in Farmington to reduce congestion and improve safety in this area. Not only will it cross over Union Pacific Railroad and Utah Transit Authority tracks to create another connection to local roads, this project will also improve pedestrian and bike connectivity along Park Lane, along with improvements to ramps associated with I-15, US-89, and Legacy Parkway (SR-67). Construction is expected to wrap up in 2026.

Other state departments of transportation have also formally launched their 2024 construction efforts.

The Ohio Department of Transportation plans to invest $2.8 billion into 950 road and bridge improvement projects across the state during its 2024 construction season – with 39 of them classified as “major projects” with a value above $10 million.